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Cell surface changes associated with cellular immune reactions in Drosophila.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|September 14, 1984
Summary
Temperature affects fruit fly immunity. At 29°C, tumorous-lethal (Tuml) mutant fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) show high immune competence, encapsulating parasites. At 21°C, they are immune incompetent.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Entomology
- Genetics
Background:
- Temperature influences immune responses in Drosophila melanogaster.
- Cell surface alterations in blood cells are linked to immune competence and parasite encapsulation.
- The tumorous-lethal (Tuml) mutant exhibits temperature-dependent immune phenotypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between temperature, cell surface changes, and immune competence in Drosophila melanogaster.
- To characterize the immune response of the Tuml mutant to parasitic wasp eggs at different temperatures.
- To explore the role of lectin binding in cellular encapsulation responses.
Main Methods:
- Culturing Drosophila melanogaster, including the Tuml mutant, at different temperatures (21°C and 29°C).
- Assessing blood cell immune competence through parasite (Leptopilina heterotoma) encapsulation assays.
- Quantifying lectin binding to blood cells under varying immune conditions.
Main Results:
- At 29°C, Tuml mutant blood cells demonstrated high immune competence, effectively encapsulating parasite eggs.
- At 21°C, blood cells from the same mutant were largely immune incompetent.
- High lectin binding correlated with potent cellular encapsulation responses, though some immune cells did not bind lectin.
Conclusions:
- Temperature is a critical factor modulating Drosophila melanogaster immune competence and cell surface characteristics.
- Parasite encapsulation is directly linked to specific cell surface states of blood cells.
- Developing parasites may actively alter host blood cell surface properties to evade immune responses, as suggested by low lectin binding in susceptible hosts.